Retort-charging device



t 4 e h S .W 6 H mm 2 L L E H O T I M M K m 0 M O m RETORT CHARGING DEVICE.

Patented Jan.,6, 1891.

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WITNESSES. Q/ M (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

K. M. MITCHELL. RETORT CHARGING DEVICE.

Patented Jan.6, 1891.

WIJJVESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KERR M. MITCHELL, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

RETORT-CHARGING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 444,268, dated January 6, 1891. Application filed October 11,1890. Serial No. 367,770. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KERR. M. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retort-Charging Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a movable char ing-chute adapted for charging inclined retortsand mounted by means of a turning head or collar in a movable carriage, so that it may be turned or swung around for charging retorts arranged in opposite benches or at any angle to each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient and simple operating device for charging two or more retorts in different vertical lines, and benches of the same arranged either in the same line or back to back.

More particular objects are, to provide for turning the charging-chute around in its supporting-carriage, to provide for securing two or more chutes by means of grooved collars in a sectional carriage, and also to provide simple means for traversing the carriage along the channel bars or rails in front of the benches of retorts.

My improved charging-chute is particularly adapted for use in connection with inclined retorts, which are arranged to be charged by gravitation, and the chute may be convenient-1y supplied with coal from a dumping cart or hopper conveniently arranged for dropping a complete charge of coal at one time into each retort.

The matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claims.

I will now particularly describe my improved charging apparatus by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a Vertical section of a bench of inclined retorts with my chargin chutes in elevation applied to such retorts, the section being taken in different vertical planes, so as to pass through each of the retorts arranged in the well-known form of an arch. Fig. 2 represents atop plan view of the carriage, on an enlarged scale, with the turning collars forming the tops of chutes in section on line 00 0c in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on line y y of acharging-chute and carriage on an enlarged scale.

I preferably mount three. charging-chutes in a single carriage and make them of diHerent lengths, so that they will be adapted to charge at the same time three retorts L, arranged one above the other in different vertical lines or planes in the well-known form of an arch in a bench or furnace N.

The chutes are composed, principally, of two sections, as AB, A B, and A B, and the sections B B B" are adapted to slide over the smaller tapered ends of section A, A, and A. The upper sections A, A, and A are connected by flanges and bolts 9 to wide flanges d of the grooved collars D, mounted in the carriage O. In practice the sections A, A, and A" are each provided with an upwardly-extended curved arm a, for attachment of the pivoted lever a, which is also connected by a pivotal pin 'a to the sliding section B. The sections B B B are provided with side slots Z) for the reception of short guide pins or studs Z, projecting laterally from sections A A A.

The drawin s re resent onl I one of the sections, as A, provided with an arm a and operating-lever a, for the sliding section B; but in practice each of the sections A, A, and A will be provided with a similar arm and lever connected by a pivotal pin 41 to each of the sliding sections B, B, and B. By means of the sliding sections B, B, and B the chutes are accurately adjusted in contact with the mouths of the retorts for feeding coal thereto. Since the retorts L are arranged in different vertical lines in the bench or furnace N, the three chutes, which are arranged one beyond the other in the carriage, may make connection with the three retorts at the same time, if desired; but if the retorts are not so arranged as to all register at the same time with the chutes, then the carriage is moved on its rails until the mouth of any one of the chutes is made to register with any one of the retorts, when it can be charged with coal, and afterward the carriage is moved so as to register another chute with another retort on a ion higher or lower level than the first one, when it is charged with coal, and so on until all are charged in succession.

3y mounting three charging-chutes of different lengths in a single carrige I am enabled to charge retorts arranged at three different levels or heights in the different benches or furnaces usually constructed in gas-works.

The turning heads or collars D, to which the chutes are bolted, are provided with deep annular grooves and circular flanges (Z for receiving the platform-plates of the carriage.

In case the carriage is constructed to carry three charging-chutes, as shown in Fig. 2, it is provided at the top with a platform-plate composed of four pieces or sections 1 2 S at, and such platform-sections are provided at the middle portion of their abutting edges with semicircular openings for receiving the collars D. The end sections 1 and 2 have each a semicircular opening in the inner edge, and the middle sections 2 and 3 have each two semicircular openings in their opposite edges, as shown in Fig. 2. The sections have also cast with or otherwise secured to them the lugs c at their abutting edges and at their outer sides, which lugs are provided with holes through which bolts (2 are inserted for securing the sections together. \Vhen the sections are being fitted together, their semicircular edges are inserted in the grooves between the flanges (Z of collars D, and then connected by the bolts (2, passed through the lugs o.

By the above construction the chutes are conveniently mounted in the openings of the platform by means of the flanges (Z, which are fitted over the circular edges of the platform, so as to form loose joints, permitting the chutes to be turned for making connection with the mouths of different retorts.

The carriage is provided with axlesj, to which are applied wheels I, mounted on the channel bars or rails II or upon any other suitable rails. One of the channel bars or rails II is provided on its under edge with a rack 71, with which there meshes a pinion 7. for propelling the carriage on its track.

In order to provide for conveniently moving the carriage, Iattach the hanger K to the under side of the platform and arrange in the lower end thereof an axle carrying at one end the pinion 7c, meshing with rack h, and at the other end a grooved wheel 7;, on which is placed an endless chain 71;", which is operated by a workman in a well-known manner for turning the wheel and pinion. If required, a sproeket-wheel and chain may be used.

In the practical operation of my retortcharging device a single workman standing upon the staging or floor W can conveniently propel the carriage C along on its rails by manipulating the endless chain 7:. in the usual well-known manner until a particular chute is made to register with any of the retorts it is desired to charge. Then the same workman can operate the lever a for sliding one of the sections I3, 13, or into connection with the retort to be charged, after which the proper charge of coal is supplied to the chute above by a suitable hopper, which is made the subject of a separate application.

The collar 1'), forming the head or mouth of the charging-chute, is preferably made flaring outward, as shown, for readily receiving and conducting coal from the month of a charging-hopper or dumping-cart, which may in practice be arranged above the car- 'riage for conveniently supplying coal to the chutes.

The charging-chutes and carriage and rails are preferably arranged between the back ends of retort-benches, and the chutes are made of proper length for charging the retorts in both sets of benches. On account of the chutes being provided with turning collars they may be readily turned from the retorts in one bench to those in the opposite bench, and by means of the sliding sections B connection is accurately made with the mouthpieces of the rctorts.

It will be perceived that my device is quite simple in construction and operation and can be manipulated for charging-retorts by an unskilled laborer.

The sections A of the chute are preferably made of cast-iron, while the sections B may be made of sheet metal.

W" hat I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a retort-charging device, a movable carriage provided with a platform having a circular opening and a chute mounted in said opening and provided with flanges fitting over the edges of said platform,whereby the chute may be turned and adj usted to different retorts to be charged, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a carriage, of an inclined charging-chute composed of an upper section having a flanged collar connected to the platform of the carriage and forming therewith a loose turning joint, and a lower sliding section, and a lever pivotally connected to an arm of the upper section and to the lower sliding section for adjusting the chute to the mouth of the retort, substantially as described.

3. In a retort-charging device, a wheeled carriage the platform of which is made of sections having semicircular openings in their abutting edges, in combination with two or more charging-chutes of different lengths connected by suitable flanged collars or heads in such semicircular openings of the platform, and forming therewith turningjoints, substantially as described.

4:. A carriage the platform of which is made in sections having semicircular openings in their abutting edges and connected together by lugs and belts, in combination with a grooved and flanged collar adapted to receive the circular ec ges of the platform and turn thereon, and the inclined chute secured to the collar, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the Wheeled carriage supporting the charging-chutes and the rails upon which the carriage is mounted, one of such rails having at its under side a rack-bar, of ahanger connected to the under side of said carriage, a shaft in such hanger, 10' carrying at one end a pinion meshing with said rack-bar and at the other end a wheel, and a chain on the Wheel for turning it and the pinion, thereby traversing the carriage on its rails, substantiaHy as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I 5 presence of two Witnesses.

KERR M. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

EDGAR SLEPPY, J NO. H. FITZGERALD. 

